List of Roman bridges
The list of Roman bridges including bridges of ancient Rome. The Romans were the first major bridge builder in the world.
A Roman bridge in the purpose of this list are all buildings which have at least one of the following features:
- Roman Arches
- Roman pillars
- Roman foundations
- Roman abutment
- Roman pavement
- Roman breakwater
Also listed are bridges where Roman building material ( spoils ) was re- used as long as they were built on the site of a former Roman building. Even those Roman bridges are listed which have disappeared and whose existence is occupied only by the discovery of inscription stones.
Notes on Classifications
Since bridges are subject to wear and tear, war damage and natural weathering especially true, they are more difficult to classify than other buildings. The constant need for repairs and touch-ups led to the appearance of many bridges has changed so much over the centuries that it is very difficult to determine their exact origin and age. The majority of the listed Roman bridges may have been in the Middle Ages or in the (early) modern subject of such structural changes.
The bridges are classified below according to their material or their function. The events are reported unless otherwise noted from O'Connor's novel Bridges, the 330 stone bridges, 34 wooden bridges and 54 aqueduct bridges lists. An even larger corpus has compiled the Italian bridge researchers Galliazzo whose Catalogo generale comprises a total of 900 Roman bridges, but was previously used here only to some extent.
Masonry bridges
Roman masonry bridges were mostly made of natural stone or brick. The execution happened in most cases as an arch bridge. Since an absolute statement about the level and span is often not possible in these cases, a relative ranking (S = small / small, M = middle / medium, L = large / large ) is made.
Wood and stone pillar bridges
For timber bridges consist all bridge made of wood. As a stone pillar bridges are referred to such constructions in which a wooden superstructure rests on stone piers. In the Roman bridge building stone was often used simply as a disguise and the pillar core consisted of Roman concrete. In the following, all three bridge types are listed in the same category as the Romans often replaced with solid pillars in the expansion of their dominion in the provinces of the originally pure wooden structures by river overpasses.
Pontoon bridges
Often at river crossings pontoon bridges - used an alternative to the establishment of a ferry service the Roman army - in addition Pfahljochbrücken. This usually consisted of one another lashed boats, whose prows were against the current. Permanent floating bridges were also built for civilian traffic.